Entering 0-6 all-time in games against LeBron James, Durant scored 29 points to power the Thunder to a 96-85 victory at AmericanAirlines Arena.

The loss snapped the Heat's three-game winning streak and left them at 3-3 in the homestand that ended Wednesday.

"Tough game," Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said, "and they beat us in a lot of the tough-area categories, particularly on the glass."

Utilizing stifling defense, particularly in the third quarter when they limited the Heat to 17 points on 4-of-16 shooting, the Thunder took a 67-62 lead into the fourth quarter and held on from there.

With Durant shooting 12 of 21 and adding seven rebounds and six assists, the Thunder avenged a 108-103 Jan. 30 loss to the Heat in Oklahoma City. He was supported by 18 points from point guard Russell Westbrook.

There was one period of unbridled fury Wednesday for the Heat, with Dwyane Wade and James attacking the rim and the defense stifling.

The problem was there was more to the game than those final six minutes of the second quarter, which the Heat ended with a 15-5 surge.

Otherwise, there simply were not enough answers for Durant & Co.

Wade said the Heat could take solace from limiting the Thunder to .398 shooting.

"Tonight is not one of those games where you feel awful about the way you played," James said. "We couldn't make any shots."

The loss further reduced the Heat's chances of closing with a top-two seed in the Eastern Conference.

Asked what's next in this most uneven of seasons, Spoelstra said, "Pick ourselves up, regroup, refresh and get focused for the game Friday at Atlanta."

While Chris Bosh continued his recent inspired play with 21 points and 11 rebounds, the Heat needed more than the 19 points from James and 21 from Wade. None of the Heat's stars was particularly sharp, with Bosh shooting 6 of 17, Wade 7 of 21 and James 8 of 21.

"We missed some pretty good chances," Bosh said.

It added up to a .385 night from the field for the Heat, who also were outrebounded 51-40.

"They did challenge us all night at the rim," Spoelstra said.

The Heat also closed at 3 of 17 on 3-pointers.

"We have to knock wide-open shots down," Bosh said.

With the Heat missing five consecutive shots, the Thunder pushed to a 73-66 lead early in the fourth quarter. From there, Westbrook converted a 3-pointer to push Oklahoma City to an 85-73 lead.

A pair of Wade free throws later drew the Heat within 85-78, but he was unable to convert in transition after a Heat defensive stop. Thunder guard James Harden then drained a 3-pointer on the other end to end the Heat surge.

Angered by a lack of a foul call on Wade's drive, Wade and Spoelstra then were called for technical fouls during the ensuing timeout, with Durant converted the second of those free throws for an 89-78 Thunder lead.

While victories over the Los Angeles Lakers and San Antonio Spurs spurred hopes for a strong finish over these final four weeks of the regular season, this was a night when the Heat's halfcourt offense sputtered and the Thunder's length and athleticism proved overwhelming.

"It's always spots that we have every other game," Bosh said of the Heat's uneven play. "Now we have to make sure we put this behind us."

The Thunder have now won five in a row, including four in a row on the road.

The game was the second for center Kendrick Perkins with the Thunder since he was acquired from the Boston Celtics at the trading deadline. He was limited by foul trouble, closing with four points and five rebounds in 19 minutes.

The game also marked the AmericanAirlines Arena return by former Heat guard Daequan Cook, who was dealt in the offseason in order to clear cap space for the Heat's massive makeover. Cook converted a pair of rally-killing 3-pointers.

Heat starting center Erick Dampier, who struggled against the length and athleticism of the Thunder, was yanked early in the second half, as he was at the start of the first half, playing only 13:42 total.

Replay was utilized twice in the third quarter, one confirmed a Wade 3-pointer and another changing a Durant 3-pointer to a two-point basket.